New data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank reveals that Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region globally where the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet increased between 2024 and 2025.

The region saw a rise of 13 million individuals, bringing the total to 954 million people struggling to access nutritious food. This contrasts with other regions, which reported declines, notably South Asia with a reduction of 72 million.

Globally, over 2.7 billion people remain financially unable to purchase a healthy diet, despite an overall improvement of more than 108 million fewer people facing this challenge worldwide.

Factors Driving Affordability Challenges

The report highlights that affordability depends not just on food prices but also on income levels, market access, and broader economic conditions. The average global cost of a healthy diet in 2025 was $4.28 (approximately KSh 554) per person per day, with significant variation across regions and income groups.

  • Lower-middle-income countries recorded the highest average cost at $4.36 (KSh 564) per day.
  • High-income countries experienced the fastest cost increase, rising 3.5% annually to $4.20 (KSh 543).
  • Latin America and the Caribbean had the most expensive healthy diets at $4.91 (KSh 635), while North America had the lowest at $3.02 (KSh 391).

Kenya's Healthy Diet Basket

Kenya measures diet affordability through the Healthy Diet Basket (HDB), developed by FAO and the World Bank. It includes 31 food items across seven categories: starches, legumes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat/fish/eggs, and fats/oils.

The largest portions of the basket are starches and legumes at 25% each, followed by fats and oils at 20%. Vegetables, dairy, and fruits each make up smaller shares, with meat, fish, and eggs comprising 5%.

This framework estimates the minimum cost for a nutritionally adequate diet across Kenya, reflecting local availability and dietary guidelines.

Policy Implications

The rising affordability gap in Sub-Saharan Africa signals that boosting food production alone will not resolve food insecurity. The FAO and World Bank urge policies that enhance incomes, strengthen market resilience, and improve access to nutritious foods.